Traditional boat fishermen stage protest demanding subsidised kerosene supply

Mangalore, Oct 27: Gillnet and traditional boat fishermen led by Dakshina Kannada district Gillnet and Traditional Fishermen's Association organised a mass protest in front of the deputy commissioner's office here on Monday, pressing for supply of subsidised kerosene for the fishermen.

The fishermen protested at being denied supply of subsidised kerosene since September, as they used kerosene as fuel to run the outboard engines of their mini boats used for fishing. Office-bearers of the association, along with leaders and members of other organisations, participated in the protest.  

Addressing the protestors, president of the association Ali Hasan said that the traditional fishermen were hit hard when the government cancelled their supply of subsidised kerosene two months ago, as they were unable to make much of a livelihood as before. Suffering from financial hardship, they are unable to repay the loans they borrowed from the bank. Chief minister and fisheries minister should immediately fulfill the assurances they had given and recommence the supply of subsidised kerosene to traditional fishermen, he urged.

Honorary president of the association Satish Kotian said that from the year 2012-13, the fishing catch in the districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttar Kannada had reduced as much as 25 percent in the year 2013-14. Since the beginning of 2014-15, the catch across the shoreline has drastically reduced as the fishermen are unable to get subsidised kerosene supplied by the government. Close to 7.5 lakh fishermen and dependent families in the three districts face a bleak future due to this, he said.

Joint secretary of the association Subhash Mulihithlu, fishermen leaders Vasudev Boloor and B K Vasu also spoke in the protest.

Dakshina Kannada district general secretary the association B A Basheer, honorary president Satish Kotian, vice-president Pranesh, treasurer Sunil, traditional boat fishermen union leader Lokesh Shriyan, Abdul Jaleel Krishnapura and others were present.

After the protest, a memorandum was handed over to the deputy commissioner to be submitted to the chief minister.